Hanafis, Shafis, Malikis, Hambalis

Q: We are Muslims ... not Hanafis, Bukharis, Malikis, Hambalis, or Shafis. Let us live according to the Quran.

A: Are you implying that a Hanafi or Shaafi'ee is not a Muslim? There is nothing further from the truth. Many of us are Hanafi Muslims, Shaafi'ee Muslims, etc. We follow one of these great Imams, who understood the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and laid out the laws of Islam for laymen like us. Following one of them IS following the Qur'aan and Sunnah. Where did they derive the laws that they formulated from? It is gross ignorance to believe that by following one of the Imams, one is not following the Qur'aan and Sunnah. In fact, there is the distinct danger of going completely astray by not following one of these illustrious Imams. Experience has proven that those who do not follow one of these great Imams become confused and misled. By living according to their teachings we are living according to Quran. May Allah Ta'aala guide us to His pleasure. Aameen.

Prepared by Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and Ratified by:
Mufti Siraj Desai, Darul-Uloom Abubakr, Malabar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa